St. David Street is open after a long and bumpy ride – and not just the asphalt
Decision to remove parking and add bike lanes was fraught from the start
FERGUS – After three years of disruption and one winter with an extremely bumpy road, Centre Wellington township has announced that the St. David Street/Highway 6 reconstruction project is complete.
The road officially opened to traffic at 5pm on Aug. 12 and the next morning, crews could be seen taking down ‘road closed’ and detour signs on neighbouring streets.
The project was completed in three construction stages.
Phase 1, from St. Andrew Street to just north of the Garafraxa Street intersection, was completed in 2024. Phase 2, extending from just north of Garafraxa Street to Edinburgh Avenue, was substantially completed in 2025, with final infrastructure, paving, landscaping, and active transportation work completed in 2026.
The project was prompted by aging infrastructure and included:
– replacement of the municipal watermain and sanitary sewer;
– improvements to the storm sewer system;
– third-party utility relocates;
– full reconstruction of the roadway and sidewalks;
– separated cycling facilities;
– traffic calming measures;
– signalized intersection upgrades;
– a new controlled pedestrian crossing at St. George Street;
– new trees, landscaping, benches and decorative streetlights; and
– other streetscape improvements supporting walking, cycling and access to downtown businesses.
The project was controversial in some respects as 10 of 14 on-street parking spots were removed to make way for wider sidewalks, trees, streetlights and separated bike lanes.
As well, with the early onset of winter last year, the asphalt work could not be completed correctly, resulting in potholes, and bumpy asphalt along the route through the winter.
Total cost of the project was $9.25 million which was aided by a $2,849,176 Connecting Links grant from the province.
The decision to add bike lanes and remove some on-street parking was made in 2021 by the previous council after considerable public input, consultation with businesses and the Ministry of Transportation, and regard for the township’s transportation master plan.
The previous council was famously divided on most matters, but on the bike lane option, they voted unanimously in favour at the June 21, 2021, council meeting. Council of the day included Mayor Kelly Linton and councillors Neil Dunsmore, Ian MacRae, Steven VanLeeuwen, Bob Foster, Stephen Kitras and Kirk McElwain.
However, at a subsequent meeting, VanLeeuwen, Foster, Kitras, and McElwain thought they had made a bad decision and wanted council to reconsider its decision. But the motion to reconsider did not pass and the project moved forward.
In an Aug. 12 press release, the township thanked “residents, businesses, property owners, visitors, contractors and community members … for their cooperation and patience throughout the project.
“With construction now complete, St. David Street provides a renewed and improved connection through Fergus and supports the township’s continued investment in safe, reliable and sustainable infrastructure.”
For more information on this project, visit www.connectcw.ca/stdavidstreet.
